(Photo: Columbia Pictures)

Today marks the anniversary of the groundbreaking urban-drama Boyz n the Hood.  While Matty Rich’s Straight Out of Brooklyn was released only a month before and dealt with many of the same issues, Boyz n the Hood captured the nation.

Directed and written by John Singleton, the story was based in South Central, Los Angeles and dealt with themes of drug abuse, violence, Black masculinity and fatherhood. The powerhouse cast included Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne and Ice Cube. The movie was also a big break for a flock of new actors — Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Regina King and Cuba Gooding, Jr., who eventually won an Oscar for 1996’s Jerry Maguire.

Boyz N the Hood received two Oscar nominations — Best Director and Original Screenplay. Singleton was the youngest person to be nominated for Best Director and the first African-American.

What is your favorite moment from Boyz n the Hood?

The Twilight stars are trying to expand themselves out of the teen vampire franchise. Variety.com is reporting Taylor Lautner will be directed by Oscar nominee John Singleton in the upcoming thriller Abduction. This will be the first film Singleton has directed since 2005’s Four Brothers, which starred Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese and Andre 3000.  According to Variety.com:

John Singleton will direct Lionsgate’s “Abduction,” a thriller with Taylor Lautner attached to star and Gotham Group, Vertigo Entertainment and Lautner’s Tailor Made producing.

The minimajor reached a deal with the helmer a month after landing Shawn Christensen’s spec script. Shooting’s expected to begin in July in Pittsburgh.

Story, based on an idea by Gotham Group’s Jeremy Bell, is focused on a young man who discovers his own baby picture on a missing persons website. Project was developed on spec by Gotham Group and Vertigo.

Producers include Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman, Vertigo’s Roy Lee and Doug Davison and Tailor Made’s Dan Lautner. Gotham Group’s Bell and Vertigo’s Gabriel Mason are exec producing.

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